John Byres of Coates
Sir John Byres of Coates | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1569 Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Died | 1629-11-24 |
| Occupation(s) | Merchant, banker, town official |
| Years active | Late 16th century – 1629 |
| Known for | Treasurer and Old Provost of Edinburgh Town Council; Dean of Guild; owner of Royal Mile tenements; builder of Coates Hall |
Sir John Byres of Coates (1569–1629) was a prominent Scottish merchant and banker who held the positions of Treasurer and Old Provost (Deputy Provost) within the Edinburgh Town Council.
The Byers Close located on the Royal Mile bears his name in recognition.
Life
John Byres was born in Edinburgh in 1569 into a prosperous family engaged in banking and trade.
During the late 1500s, he purchased multiple tenement properties along the Royal Mile, near St Giles Cathedral, in close proximity to the Old Tolbooth and Luckenbooths. These buildings contained flats and shops which he leased, and it is probable that his banking operations were based at 369 High Street.
Between 1612 and 1615, Byres served as Treasurer for the Edinburgh Town Council and also fulfilled duties as Depute Provost, known as "Old Provost." In 1615, he constructed Coates Hall (later called Easter Coates) to the west of Edinburgh, incorporating intricately carved stone lintels salvaged from his Royal Mile holdings, including a marriage lintel engraved with his initials JB alongside those of his spouse.
From 1619 until 1624, he held the office of Dean of Guild.
John Byres passed away on 24 November 1629 and was interred in Greyfriars Kirkyard. His memorial, sculpted by mason William Wallace, is positioned on the western boundary of the original churchyard near the vault of John Baptist Medina.
Following his demise, ownership of his Royal Mile tenements transferred to William Dick of Braid.
Family
Byres's first marriage was to Margaret Barclay of Towie Barclay Castle, with whom he had one surviving daughter named Rachel Byres; she later wed Thomas Sydserff. Two other daughters died during infancy. After Margaret's death in 1616, he remarried in 1617 to Agnes Smith, sister of future Provost John Smith of Grothill. This union produced six sons and one daughter, including his successor Sir John Byres of Coates and Warriston, 2nd Baronet (1619–1648).
Trivia
Around the year 1800, Coates Hall was acquired by William Walker. His daughters, Mary and Barbara Walker, subsequently gifted its garden along with substantial financial support to the Episcopal Church of Scotland in 1873 for the construction of St Mary's Cathedral.
After their deaths in 1887, Coates Hall was repurposed as the Cathedral Choir School for St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral and underwent renovations by architects George Gilbert Scott and John Oldrid Scott.
Significantly, the Walker sisters chose to be interred beside John Byres within Greyfriars Kirkyard.